The IXV Project: the European in-Flight Experimentation for Future Space Transportation Systems and Technologies

Paper number

IAC-07-D2.6.02

Author

Mr. Giorgio Tumino, European Space Agency/Headquarters, France

Coauthor

Mr. Salvatore Mancuso, France

Coauthor

Mr. Thomas Walloschek, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Stephane Langlois, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Samir Bennani, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Jean-Francois Flamand, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Jacques Pinel, The Netherlands

Year

2007

Abstract

The number of experimental vehicle concepts studied in recent years by ESA, France, Germany and Italy underlines Europe’s need to gain in-flight experience on re-entry systems and technologies to consolidate its position among the key players in this strategic field. ESA’s Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP) was conceived by its Member States to provide a framework for, among other technology challenges, the development of the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) by 2010, as the European re-entry system and technology in-flight demonstrator.
ESA and its industrial prime contractor Next Generation Launcher Prime SpA (I), a company joint-venture between Astrium (F,D) and Finmeccanica (I), initiated the IXV project activities at the beginning of 2005 by defining the key European needs with respect to system demonstration, technologies validation and experimentation, and by starting the design activities on the basis of previous extensive national and ESA efforts to consolidate a consistent IXV mission and vehicle design baseline responding to European technical and programmatic requirements.  
The IXV design activities are well in progress throughout the running project phase-B1 (up to a consolidated system requirement review including preliminary design definition) and the ramping-up project phase-B2/C1 (up to system and subsystems preliminary design reviews).
The current IXV design baseline is the result of extensive analyses, including mission and trajectories, ground-to-sea landing trade-off, aeroshape optimisation, computational fluid dynamics for aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics, flying-quality assessment for longitudinal/lateral stability, trimmability and controllability of the vehicle. Additional analysis and significant testing, including wind tunnels, are ongoing and/or upcoming to help select the final IXV system and subsystems design choices, and to complete the necessary IXV technical and programmatic data-file necessary to enter the following development phases with a consistent design-to-cost approach for the project.
The 58th IAC presentation and paper will give an up-to-date insight on the IXV project focusing on the programmatic frame and objectives, while presenting the development methodology, the up-to-date activities status, the up-to-date activities results and conclusions.

Abstract document

IAC-07-D2.6.02.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-D2.6.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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